Author name: highlandnews

Warning Government needs to step in to properly fund nursing homes

There’s a warning the Government needs to step in to fund nursing homes properly. Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín says otherwise there’ll be ‘a vast amount of closures in the coming years.’ He’s reacting to the HIQA report showing the closure of 50 nursing homes in the past 4 years. In Donegal, there were 43 fewer […]

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ATU and PGIM Ireland partner up for delivery of sports in Donegal

The Atlantic Technological University and PGIM Ireland have joined forces to establish and support a Recreational Physical Activity Programme spanning 2023 and 2024. It aims to offer physical activity opportunities to diverse groups across Donegal and the Northwest. Working with Donegal Youth Service, secondary schools and sports clubs across the county, the programme will have

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ATU awarded over €768,000 for research equipment

The Atlantic Technological University is one of fourteen to benefit from €15 million in funding over the next two years. €768,025 will be awarded to the ATU under the Higher Education Research Equipment Grant. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD made the announcement today saying in order to

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ATU Killybegs to roll out first ever apprentice programme

On the back of a €17 million announcement in funding is being allocated to the higher education sector, apprenticeship courses will be delivered on the ATU Killybegs campus for the first time. 288 students will avail of an electrical apprenticeship. Meanwhile, ATU Letterkenny will deliver 6 blocks of Metal Fabrication apprenticeships for 96 students and

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More road safety appeals made with 1600 crashes since December 1st

Drivers are being urged to slow down after it emerged there have been, on average, over 100 crashes every day over the past two weeks. Gardaí say 1,600 collisions have occurred since they began their Christmas Road Safety message at the beginning of December. Meanwhile the Donegal Road Safety Working Group say Never Ever Drink

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Co. Derry man sentenced for possession of indecent material of children

A 46 year old man from County Derry has been sentenced today for two years for making and possessing indecent and prohibited images of children and possession of extreme pornography – there were over 17,000 images of indecent children found throughout investigations. Darin Kolev from the Portstewart area will serve six months in custody and

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Deputy Doherty accused of ‘strategic heckling’

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has been accused of strategic heckling in the Dail. Heated exchanges were displayed in the Dail again today as Tanaiste Micheal Martin attempted to respond to Deputy Doherty who accused the coalition of missing social and affordable housing targets repeatedly. The Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl was forced to intervene in

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Tanaiste pays tribute to Private Sean Rooney on first anniversary of his death

The Tanaiste has paid tribute to Private Sean Rooney on the first anniversary of his death. The 23 year old was killed in Lebanon when the convoy he was travelling on came under attack on December 14th 2022. A wreath laying ceremony took place on Sunday in Newtowncunningham to mark a year since Private Rooney’s

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Today marks 1st anniversary of death of Private Sean Rooney

Today marks the first anniversary of Private Seán Rooney’s death in Lebanon. The 23-year-old was killed during an attack on UN peacekeeping soldiers. A wreath laying ceremony took place on Sunday in Newtowncunningham to mark a year since Private Rooney’s death. The trial of Mohammad Ayyad who has been accused of the killing of Private

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Donegal farmers to benefit from new Agri-Food Regulator

Donegal farm families, farmers and food producers are to benefit from the establishment of an Agri-Food Regulator. The regulator was set up to bring fairness and transparency to the agricultural and food supply chain. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue says it has been a priority of his to ensure farmers receive a fair deal for their

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Lack of community engagement over housing of asylum seekers in South Donegal criticised

The lack of community engagement over the housing of asylum seekers in Ireland has come in for criticism again. 91 asylum seekers are due to be housed in 29 rooms in Cavangarden near Ballyshannon. A one year contract is understood to have been signed. South Donegal Deputy Marian Harkin told today’s Nine til Noon Show

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Donegal funeral director warns of scam purporting to stream deceased’s funeral service

A Donegal funeral director has warned of a deeply insensitive scam doing the rounds. Scammers have begun setting up fake social media pages purporting to provide access to the live stream of a deceased’s funeral. However, to access the stream people are being requested to submit credit card details. Sean Murphy from Inishowen Funeral Services

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Gardai warn drivers to ensure tyres are in roadworthy condition

Gardai in Donegal are warning motorists to ensure tyre checks are carried out regularly. It’s after a number of fixed charge penalty notices were issued by Gardai yesterday during checkpoints carried out in Malin Town, Carndonagh and St. Johnston.G Assistance was provided by Revenue and Social Welfare Enforcement Officers. Gardai say a large number of

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ESRI backs Government in handling of 5% spending rule

The ESRI has backed the Government over it’s handling of the 5% spending rule in the budget. It follows criticism last week that the Government was guilty of ‘over-spending’ amid inflationary pressures. The research institute suggests the tax and welfare measures announced in Budget 24 will insulate most households from rising prices next year. Its

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Pringle successfully moves Dail motion amending his own Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill

  Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has successfully moved a Dail motion amending his own Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill. The 2018 act sought to ensure there would be no government investment in fossil fuels, but the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund still holds millions of euro in investments in such firms. This he says is because of

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Positions filled at Convention with Mary Coughlan Donegal’s first female Chairperson

After a turbulent year at administration level the 2023 Donegal County Convention went a lot smoother on Wednesday night in Jackson’s Hotel Ballybofey. For the first time in it’s 118 year history, Donegal GAA with have its first female Chairperson. Former Tánaiste Mary Coughlan was elected unopposed taking over from Fergus McGee who stepped down

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Podcast: ‘UNTOLD’ Donegal Women during the Revolutionary Period

Donegal women during the Revolutionary Period did much to shape the lives of women in the county in the 21st century. Life was not easy for them and many of their stories remained untold for years. There were women like Eithne Coyle who spearheaded Cumann na mBan in Donegal, determined to continue the political campaign.

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Packie Bonner only learned of FAI payment scandal last month

FAI board member Packie Bonner says he was disappointed to only learn of the excessive payments to CEO Jonathan Hill last month. Hill was in receipt of 20-thousand euro above his agreed salary, money which has since been repaid. He apologised to the committee for the issue, while ex-independent chair Roy Barrett denied purposefully withholding

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Deputy MacLochlainn brings LUH ambulance concerns before the Dáil

A Donegal Deputy has raised concerns at Dáil level, that lives are at risk after 8 ambulances came to a standstill outside Letterkenny University Hospital yesterday. At the same time there were elderly people left waiting in hard chairs in the Emergency Department for hours on end. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn told Minister Simon Coveney that

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Donegal priest considering installing CCTV after sacristy ransacked

A Moville Parish Priest says he is considering installing CCTV cameras around his Church after it was ransacked in recent days. During a spate of break ins in the Inishowen peninsula in the early hours of Monday morning, Ballinacrae Church was broken into, the sacristy ransacked and damage caused to a tabernacle. Gardaí while responding

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Former NI Finance Minister sceptical about UK financial incentive for Stormont return

The North’s Secretary of State is meeting Stormont party leaders again later – for further talks on a proposed financial package for Northern Ireland. The £2.5 billion offer includes a deal on pay for public sector workers,  who’ve been taking to the picket lines. But it’s dependent on the restoration of Stormont, which the DUP

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Community Activist says welfare rates are not what attracts Ukrainian refugees to Ireland

  A Community Activist in Donegal has expressed grave concern at the government’s proposals to lessen the level of support for Ukranian refugees, saying he doesn’t believe the measures will reduce the numbers seeking support here. Declan Meehan, who manages the Milford & District Resource Centre, is one of the organisers of a welcome event

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Calls for full transparency from Uisce Eireann

There’s calls for full transparency from Uisce Eireann in Donegal. The Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District says communication from the utility is severely lacking as he received correspondence from Uisce Eireann yesterday acknowledging a complaint he submitted in August. While attempting to report a water outage in Falcarragh today it initially was not accepted

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